Switching device.



J. B. BOSTWIGK.

SWITCHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION IILED JAN. 18, 1909.

921 ,945. Patented May 18, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. B. BOSTWIGK.

SWITCHING DEVICE.

APPLIGATIOH FILED JAN. 18, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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illi l STAS JAMES B. BOSTWICK, OF RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY.

SWITCHING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1909.

Application filed January 18, 1909. Serial No. 472,927.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES B. BOSTWIOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rahway, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switching Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in mechanism for the operation of rail switches and my object is to provide means for opening or closing a switch by indirect application from a moving vehicle and under the control of the operator who may have charge of such means of application.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a car and track, showing working mechanism for operating the switch. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the switch operating device attached to the car. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the angular lever. plate. Fig. 4 is a front view of rod 2 with bearings for the same in section. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a front view of the extension support 8 and bracket 4, showing rod 2 as turned to the left, which shows wheel 7 to the right. Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 1 with the car in section. Fig. 8 is a modification of Fig. 6, a shoe 30 being shown in place of wheel 7 to operate lever plate 19.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 represents the car, to the front platform of which are secured brackets 3 and 4 holding a rod 2. The lower bracket 4 is provided with a bolt or pin 6 which passes through the bracket 4 and engages in a slot or groove 5 made in rod 2 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It will be seen that by turning the rod 2 to the right or left a quarter turn, at the same time pressing down the foot-pedal 11 the tension of the spring 15 is released, which will allow the disk 14, fastened to the rod 2, to fall to its lowest point, as shown in Fig. 2, the rod 2 and the wheel 7 will be caused to assume another position, which will be referred to later on. Near the lower end of rod 2 is an extension 8, and between the arm of this ex tension and rod 2 is held a wheel or roller 7. It will also be seen that near the upper part of rod 2 a sleeve or stop 9 is fastened in such a manner that when the foot-pedal 11 is down as far as required the bell-crank lever 10, having a catch 16 at its upper end,which engages with the top of the stop 9, thereby retaining the rod 2 in position until the wheel 7, has performed its work and is released to take up its normal position again. This is accomplished by removing the spring tension which releases the catch 16 from the stop 9, causing the rod 2 to be brought into normal position.

In the foregoing the mechanism carried by the car and devised to operate the rocking plate has been set forth, so I will now describe the switch-moving parts. The angular plate 19 is placed in and fastened to a box or other receptacle by pivot 29, the box being more particularly shown in Fig. 1, and the angular lever plate 19 has levers 17 and 18 extending from each end respectively. As shown in Fig. 1 the forward lever 17 is down while theother lever 18 is necessarily up, projecting the required distance above the rail at its end and is in the path of wheel 7 when that is lowered for operation. When the Wheel 7, thus lowered, acts upon the arm 18 of rocking plate 19 the rod 21 is drawn backward, which causes the movement of bell-crank arms 23 and 24, the latter of which has a link 25 attached to it and fastened to the switch point '26 which operates to pull the latter away from the main line rail 28 and allows the car to go onto a connecting line or branch. The operator of the next car desiring to continue on the main line can do so by reversing the operation as above described so that the wheel when lowered will be in contact with arm 17 of rocking plate 19 and throw the switch in the opposite direction from that above set forth.

It will be seen by the above that in the mechanism carried by the car, means are provided and arranged to make a positive connection in such a manner that no backward movement can take place when the wheel 7 or other moving means comes in contact with the lever arms 17 or 18 of rocking plate 19 which move the switch. This is accomplished by means of the catch 16 engaging the stop 9. The distance which the wheel and extension are allowed to move with the rod 2 is regulated by means of the bolt or pin 6 moving in the groove 5 which, from its shape, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 causes the rod 2 to rise or fall according to the direction in which the rod is turned and owing to the shape of the groove 5, a limit is set as to how high or how low the rod shall rise or fall, the extreme ends of the groove acting as a stop in each direction.

On approaching a switch the operator on a car, desiring to change the switch from the osition in which it is set, will proceed to reeasethe tension of the spring 15 and; turn the rod 2 in the position which brings the wheel 7 into the proper position for changing the switch. If the wheel 7 is parallel with the front line of the car, which would be its normal position as described in Fig. 1, and it is desired to run on and over-the lever arm 18 of rocking plate 19 to 0 enthe switch, the operator would release t e tension of spring 15,, give the rod 2 a quarter turn to the leit, which would lower the rod 2, bringing the wheel 7 in position to depress lever arm 18 of rocking plate 19 and at the same time would cause the catch 16 toengage the stop 9. The wheel 7 would depress the rocking plate aforesaid and cause the rod 21 to operate the bell-crank 23, 24 and 25 thereby moving the switch, and the car would proceed in the desired direction without hindrance. The different parts of the mechanism on the car could then be caused to resume their normal position by releasing the spring pressure 15' which would cause the catch 16 to be disengaged from the stop 9 and by turning rod 2 the wheel 7 would be placed in a position ready for operation. In some cases it may be desirable to use a shoe 30 instead of the wheel 7, the different movements in such cases being practically the same with the exception that the shoe 80 would be caused to slide on the lever arms 17 and 18 instead of revolving, as would be the case with the wheel 7.

This invention has been described as operating a switch from a car, but it will be readilly seen that the same canbe used in any railway, elevated road or subway track, with only alterations of degree in its several parts.

VJ hat I claim is 1. In a switching device the combination with the switch, of means for actuating the same, which means consist of an angular rocking plate having inclined arms diagonally opposite each other, a rod p-ivotally connected with said plate, and a bell-crank lever movable by said rod and attached thereto and to the switch.

2. In a switching device the combination with the switch, of means for actuating the same, comprising an angular rocking plate having inclined arms diagonally opposite each other included therewith, a rod pivotally connected with said plate and a bellcrank lever pivoted to the switch and to the rod.

3. In a switching device the means for operating the switch-moving parts, which con 'sist'oi' the grooved rod 2, having combined automatic locking and releasing means, the wheel extension 8 and the wheel 7.

41 In a switching device the means for operating the switch-moving parts which consist oi the grooved rod 2, having combined automatic locking and releasing means, the wheel extension 8, the wheel 7 and the upward pressing spring 15.

5. In a switching device the means for op erating the switch-moving parts and for regulating the same, which consist of the movable rod 2, the wheel extension 8, the wheel 7, the upward pressing tension spring 15, the bolt 6' arranged to act in groove 5 and the groove 5.

6., In a switching device the means for opcrating the switch-moving parts and for regulating the same, which consist of the movable, grooved rod 2, the wheel extension 8, the wheel 7, the upward pressing tension spring 15, the bolt 6 arranged to act in the groove 5 and means for locking the grooved rod.

7. In a switching device the means for operating the switch-moving parts and for preventing backward motion of the same, which consist of the movable rod 2', the wheel 7, the tension spring 15, the bolt 6, the groove 5, the locking catch 16 and the stop 9.

8. A switching device consisting of a movable rod 2, a wheel extension 8, a wheel 7, a tension spring 15,, a bolt 6, a groove 5, a looking catch 16, a stop 9, an angular rocking plate having extended arms included therewith, a rod 21 and a bell-crank lever 23.'

A switching device consisting of a movable rod 2', a wheel extension 8, a wheel 7, a tension spring 15,, a bolt 6, a stop. 9, a rocking plate having extended arms 17 and 18, a rod 21 and means attached to the rod 2 l'for opening and closing the switch.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES- B. BOSTVVIOK.

Witnesses:

SARA i3. Vv'oon, WILLBER E. DEMAREST, Jr. 

